It's been over a decade since the release of the Nintendo Wii, with two newer home consoles succeeding it in the 12 years since its debut. While the Wii's relevancy may have faded, a small population of users out there still keep their system hooked up, for the purpose of easily streaming on-demand TV and movies. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Crunchyroll are still capable of streaming 480p video for those that managed to grab the respective applications prior to the closure of the Wii Shop Channel. Back in the day, there was a definite market thanks to the massive popularity of the Wii, and streaming companies commonly encouraged customers to use game consoles in order to watch content. Netflix even offered a disc by mail that would allow Wii systems to use the service. However, those days are coming to an end after eight years, with Netflix revealing that Nintendo will be suspending all video streaming services on the platform by January 31, 2019.

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[Zense]

Yeah, understandable.
You can get a used Wii for $40 and get composite with 420p, or you can buy a Chromecast for $30 which can go up to 1080p.

But can the chromecast play wii horsez??

This actually sucks, tho and btw you can still access wii shop and download netflix, since it's for free. At least you could back in september.

 

[DinohScene]

As much as I am for keeping services on old consoles, it's time to move on.
One can watch 1080p netflix on cheap android boxes and new tellies have it pre-installed as well.

 

[Asia81]

Wait, the wii has netflix?

 

[Deleted User]

Might be time to pick up a raspberry pi and use that as my media hub at this point.

 

[Taleweaver]

So basically: the last support tech who knew this stuff finally got either a promotion or left for somewhere else (and that person probably had around half a dozen calls about it per month or something ).

Meh...it's no big loss. On the contrary...

Wait, the wii has netflix?

This was my first reaction as well.

 

[PalindromicBreadLoaf]

This was really to be expected, but it was still nice to have it up and running for my Grandmother that still uses it.

 

[Dr.Hacknik]

Well that's sad, I still use Hulu on my Wii to watch anime or Crunchyroll. Maybe I need to upgrade lol

 

[BORTZ]

You mean ''shake your wiimote violently like you are having a seizure'' to pay respects?

Instructions unclear, wiimote lodged in ceiling out of respect.

 

[Deleted User]

Aw, man! Now I can't watch Youtube on my old Nintendo Wii! How am I supposed to watch Youtube now?! Dang it! Ugh!

 

[jahrs]

Um guys theres no A or B button on a wii at least not without a classic controller or gamecube one. i think you mean press 1 + 2

wonder how many likes ill get when im clearly wrong.

 

[Zense]

Aw, man! Now I can't watch Youtube on my old Nintendo Wii! How am I supposed to watch Youtube now?! Dang it! Ugh!

Isn't the modded youtube app independent of nintendo closing support for streaming?

 

[Illuminaticy]

Um guys theres no A or B button on a wii at least not without a classic controller or gamecube one. i think you mean press 1 + 2

wonder how many likes ill get when im clearly wrong.

Uh...Have you ever held a Wiimote?

 

[Reecey]

Um guys theres no A or B button on a wii at least not without a classic controller or gamecube one. i think you mean press 1 + 2

wonder how many likes ill get when im clearly wrong.

That’s a flop reply by the way even though you tried hard to cover your tracks! The A is on the front, that’s the big main button and the B is the big one on the back.

 

[pustal]

It may be sluggish, it might only be 480p, it might crash 80% of the time, but hey, at least the Wii had Netflix.

Wii > Switch confirmed, finally.

I still believe the Wii and the Wii U are much better designed consoles, specially the Wii U, that unfortunately suffered from a poor branding and marketing. The Switch is too big to be a handheld and too restricted by the form factor to have a contemporary performance as a TV console. The base controllers are uncomfortable at best and the ''pro" ones are simply too expensive. The operative system is lacking and offers no retrocompatibility.

I love the games but honestly hate the console.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Never knew it had Hulu, Crunchyroll and Prime Video. I thought those didn't get supported until the Wii U.
It's not like watching 480p video on a modern TV is a very good experience anyway. It's barely usable.

 

[krueger96]

Isn't the modded youtube app independent of nintendo closing support for streaming?

Wait, someone made a modded youtube app? Last time i checked, someone added YouTube support to wiimc, but that was awhile ago

 

[Rabbid4240]

Oof

 

[incidentallyscribble]

OK what the heck Nintendo

 

[Brawl345]

is it a nintendo decision

Reads like it's Nintendo's decision. It's also no longer available since end of July (but redownloadable): https://help.netflix.com/en/node/23890
"Nintendo has announced that it will close the Wii Shop Channel on the Nintendo Wii in 2019. As a result, all video streaming services on Wii, including the Netflix Channel, are no longer available to new members as of July 31, 2018."

 

[Kioku]

Oh well...? I didn't even know it was still active on the Wii.. As pointed out this isn't even a loss as most (if not all) homes now have an HD box or Smart TV/stick. Love the snide Switch criticisms though. Not at all relevant to the topic aside from a potential Netflix release on the system.